Folding machine



June 10, 1941. F. LAVER FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheetl OOMOOOOOOQOOOQOOO00000000 OOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO June 10, 1 941.LAVER 2,245,348

FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Hi 26 I Altar/26 IPatented June 10, 1941 FICE 11 Claims.

'moisture, generates the heat that sets the curls.

A pad of this type is formed of a sheet of foil or foil and paper havingone longitudinal edge folded inwardly over the sheet and the oppositeedge folded over the first mentioned inwardly folded edge. After suchinfolding of the edges one end is given a double fold whereby thecontainer or envelope is closed at that end and is ready to receivethrough the other end the heat generating material. When the materialhas been inserted in the envelope or pad the other open end may besimilarly folded to close the envelope whereupon the pad is ready foruse or ready to be packed for sale.

The folding of the ends of the container has heretofore been donegenerally by hand, which not only is tedious but the folding is notalways uniform and the number of pads that can be so folded by hand in agiven time is quite limited and hence such method of folding addsconsiderably to the cost of the pads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine forclosing the end or ends of pads of the type mentioned.

A more specific object is to provide mechanism whereby pads having openor unfolded ends can be advanced through the machine and during thepassage of the same through the machine one end thereof will be given adouble fold to close that end and the fold so formed preferably will bepressed or flattened down to-retain it in the closed position and thusprepare the semiformed pad for the reception of the heat generatingmaterial.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the typementioned which is adapted to advance pads successively into engagementwith folding devices and which retain the pads in proper alignment withrespect to such devices during the folding operation and during theadvancement of one of such pads from one device to another to assurethat the folds in the pads will be uniformly formed.

Other objects of the invention relate to various features ofconstruction and arrangements of parts which will be apparent from aconsideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings,wherein Figure l is a top plan view of a folding machine embodying thepresent improvements;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line l4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a broken sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a folding machine and certain of theassociated cooperating parts of the machine;

Figure 7 is an edge view of a pad prior to the folding of an endthereof;

Figure 8 is a progress view showing the pad of Figure 7 as it appearswhen one end has reeeived a single fold;

Figure 9 illustrates the pad with a double fold formed at the end of thepad;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the pad of the type shown in Figure 9and which is adapted to have the folds formed therein by the presentmechanism;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line H--H of Figure 10.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a machine is shown as comprising anendless conveyor l0 which passes around pulleys or rollers II and I2which are suitably supported in appropriate bearings not shown. Roller Hmay be the driving pulley and is operable from any suitable source ofpower such as by a belt l3. Beneath the upper run of the conveyor ii) isa suitable support or bed l4 upon which the mechanism about to bedescribed may be mounted for cooperation with the upper end of theconveyor.

The mechanism comprises means for aligning pads, such as the pad shownin Figure 7 to 11, properly with reference to the direction of movementof the upper end of the conveyor and causing the same to be moved withthe conveyor into end-folding relation with one or more, preferably two,folding devices which form folds in an end of the pad such as are shownin the progress views of Figures 8 and 9. As shown in the drawings, asupport I5 is shown attached to the bed Id by means of any suitablefastening devices. The support I5 has upstanding flanges l6 and I!provided with recesses at the upper edges in which are supported theshafts or journals l8 of a plurality of rollers l9.

It will be noted in Figure 3 that the supporting flange I! is locatedinwardly of the righthand end of the rollers and is received within anannular space between the main roller section Isa and an end sectionI917. The rollers l9, as shown in Figure 2, are closely spaced togetherand are disposed beneath the upper run of the conveyor H! for supportingthe same in a proper plane against deflection by the pressure exerted onsaid conveyor by a corresponding series of upper rollers 20. The rollers20 are individually supported each in a carrier or bracket member 2|,which members are provided with end flanges 22 and 23 in which the shaftof the respective roller is journaled. Each of the upper rollerslikewise is provided with a main roller section 26a and an end rollersection 26b which sections cooperate with the corresponding sections ofa subjacent roller. The brackets 2! in the embodiment illustrated eachis provided with a pair of upstanding pins 24 which pass throughvertical openings 25 formed in an upper supporting plate 26 which, inturn, is supported by standards 21 secured as at 28 to the bed or tableit. Disposed between the lower surface of the plate 25 and each rollercarrying member 2i are springs 28 which encircle the respective pins 2and press the members 2| downwardly to force the respective rollers 20into contact with the upper surface of the conveyor ill.

As shown in Figure 2, the members 2| are disposed closely together; infact, they are shown in contact and each of the upper rollers 29 islocated directly over one of the lower rollers H The resilient mountingof the upper rollers which is afforded by the construction abovedescribed enables each of the upper rollers to move vertically withreference to the plane of the upper surface of the upper run of theconveyor so that each roller can recede as required with reference tothe adjacent rollers as a pad moves under such rollers 20 in its passagethrough the machine during which an end of each pad is folded to closean end of the same. The independent vertical movement of the rollers 28accommodate pads of varying thickness but exert sufficient pressure uponthe pads to retain the same against movement relative to the conveyorwhereby the pads are moved uniformly through the machine.

Suitable means are provided adjacent the upper run of the belt forinitially aligning the pads properly with reference to the conveyorwhereby the pads will be advanced through the machine uniformly andtheir ends folded uniformly by the folding device or devices to behereinafter described. Such aligning means for the pads may be in theform of brackets 36 and 3! shown in Figure 1, which are adjustablelaterally of the conveyor to accommodate the same to pads of differentlengths, such as a pad 32 shown in Figure 1, for aligning the edge to befolded in proper position with reference to the folding devices. Whenpads are placed in the position of pad 32 of Figure l and movedforwardly or in the direction of movement of the belt, that is, to theright, as shown in Figure 1, they will be guided in such feedingmovement by the first roller 20 of the upper set and by that rollerpressed into non-slipping contact with the conveyor. The pads thus movewith the conveyor from contact with one upper roller into contact withthe adjacent roller as the pads progress through the machine, it beingunderstood that the lower rollers l9 retain the upper run of the beltagainst downward deflection by the pressure exerted by the upper rollersand thus support the belt and the pads thereon in the proper plane.

The folding of an end of each pad passing through the machine iseffected by means of one or more folding devices located adjacent theright-hand end of the conveyor as viewed in Figure 3. Such a device,indicated by the numeral 33, is shown in Figure 6 and comprises a plateadapted to be supported in position as viewed in Figure 3 by asupporting member HQ. The plate is shaped adjacent its right-hand end asviewed in Figure 6 to provide a shoulder 33a, which shoulder decreasesin width toward the left-hand end of the device adjacent the centralportion thereof. The upper edge of the lefthand end of the device asshown in said figure is folded over to form a flange 331) which isdirected inwardly of the machine as shown in Figure 3. The shoulder 33ais located, as shown in Figure 3, slightly below the plane of a pad 32being advanced through the machine, while the flange 33b is located in aplane slightly above the plane of the pad and also above a horizontalfoldsupporting plate 35, which has an upright flange 35a by means ofwhich the plate 35 is attached to and supported by a bracket 36 which ismounted atits outer and lower end on the bed or-table [4 as by screws31.

The feeding device comprising the plates 36 and ti are so locatedas tocause a pad 32 about to be fed into the machine to extend an appropriateextent over the right-hand edge of the conveyor, asshown in Figure 3.Due to the location of the journal supporting flanges l1 and 23 inwardlyof the ends of the respective rollers, the roller sections 19b and 2%are adapted to cooperate with the extreme right-hand edge of theconveyor in affording support for the pads close to the free ends as thelatter are moved into positions for the operations thereon by thefoldingdevices. As a pad 32 advances from the aligning devices and 3|toward the folding device 33, as shown in Figure l, the outer edgethereof is brought into overlying relation with the shoulder 33a of thedevice 33. As this end advances toward the central portion of thedevice, due to the curvature of the upper portion of the device the endportion of the pad is turned upwardly at the outer or right-hand edge ofthe fold supporting plate 35. Further movement of the pad through themachine causes the upturned end of the pad to come into contact with theflange 33b of the folding device which causes such end to be turnedinwardlyinto horizontal position as shown in Figures 3 and 6 over thesurface of the plate 35. As the pad so folded emerges from the foldingdevice 33 the folded end thereof passes between a pair of cooperatingpressing rollers 33 and 39, which flatten down the fold to the positionindicated in Figure 8.

Preferably a second folding device 4 3 is provided similar to device 33and adapted to form a second fold in each pad in cooperation with aplate (not shown) similar to plate as the pad passes through themachine. Such a double fold is illustrated in Figure 9. The device 40,as shown in Figure l, and its cooperating fold support plate are setinwardly slightly, depending on the width of the fold first formed inthe pads so as to engage the end of each pad as they advancesuccessively into folding relation with the device 4:] to form thesecond fold as stated.

At the rear of the folding device a second pair of rollers indicated bynumeral ll in Figure l, but corresponding with rollers 38 and 39 ofFigure 3, is provided, which press or flatten the second fold, thusforming a suiflciently permanent closure at one end of the pad. As thefolded pads emerge from the second folding device they may 1 theconveyor with an end ortion of each probe removed from the conveyor byany suitable means or manually, or be discharged into a suitablereceptacle. When so removed the heat generating material is insertedthrough the unfolded ends thereof and such ends then folded to close thepad against loss of the material. Such folding may be done manually, orthe pads may be run through the machine a second time with theirenclosed ends disposed in position for engagement with the foldingdevices as above described. The cushioned or spring mounted rollers 20accommodate the filled pads of increased thickness but prevent slippageof the pads with respect to the conveyor and hence cause the pads to bemoved into the desired engagement with the folding devices.

The rollers l9 and 20 are of such size as to enable the same to bespaced sufficiently close together that two or three of the rollers 20,as shown in Figure 5, will constantly engage each pad as it is advancedthrough the machine and prevent displacement of the pads with referenceto the conveyor IB and consequent improper alignment of the ends of thesame with reference to the folding devices.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my improvements forthe purpose of illustration, it will be apparent that various changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention.

I claim:

1. Folding apparatus comprising. an endless conveyor for articles to befolded, a folding element adjacent one edge of the conveyor adapted toengage and form a fold in an end of an article moving along saidconveyor, and presser rolls contacting the upper surface of saidconveyor for retaining said articles against slippage relative to theconveyor during the folding operation.

2. Folding apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyorfor articles to be folded, a series of rolls contacting the uppersurface of the upper run of said conveyor for pressing. articles againstsaid surface to prevent slippage of the articles with respect to saidsurface, aligning means for directing articles on to said conveyor withthe ends to be folded projecting beyond an edge of the conveyor, andfolding means disposed adjacent said edge in the path of the projectingends of the articles for forming folds in said projecting ends.

3. Folding apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyorfor articles to be folded, a series of rolls contacting the uppersurface of the upper run of said conveyor for pressing articles againstsaid surface to prevent slippage of the articles with respect to saidsurface, aligning means for directing articles on to said conveyor withthe ends to be folded projecting beyond the edge of the conveyor, andfolding means disposed adjacent said edge in the path of the projectingends of the articles, said means comprising a plate located immediatelyabove the plane of the projecting ends of the articles and a memberarranged .to engage the ends of the articles and turn the same over saidplate as the articles are retained by said rollers against the conveyor.

4. Means for closing the ends of articles of the class describedcomprising a conveyor for such articles, rollers above the conveyor forpressing the articles into contact with the conveyor to prevent slippageof the articles relative to the conveyor, means for initially aligningthe articles on 'jecting beyond an edge of the conveyor, a platedisposed above the plane of the projecting end portions of the articlesand having an outer edge located inwardly of the line of movement of theends of said portions, and a folding plate disposed adjacent the line oftravel of said end portions for engaging and folding the same over saidedge of said plate.

5. Means for closing the ends of articles of the class describedcomprising a conveyor for such articles, rollers disposed above saidconveyor for pressing the articles against the conveyor to preventslippage of the articles relative to the conveyor, means forinitiallyaligning articles on the conveyor whereby an end portion ofeach article projects beyond an edge of the conveyor, and a pair offolding devices disposed adjacent said edge of the conveyor in the pathof said articles for engaging and forming folds in'the end po-rtions ofthe articles as the articles are pressed by said rollers against saidconveyor and are moved by the latter along said devices.

6. Folding means for ends of articles formed of sheet materialcomprising an endless conveyor, means for aligning articles thereonwhereby ends of the article project beyond an edge of the conveyor,folding means mounted adjacent said edge of the conveyor in the path ofmovement of said projecting ends of the articles for engaging andforming a fold in each article moving along the conveyor, and aplurality of individually springpressed rollers above the conveyor forretaining the article thereon against displacement relative to theconveyor as the latter moves the articles into engagement with thefolding means.

7. Folding means for ends of articles formed of sheet materialcomprising a conveyor for the articles, means for aligning the articleson the conveyor whereby an end of each article projects laterally beyondan edge of the conveyor, means cooperating with the conveyor forpreventing relative movement of the articles with respect to theconveyor during the folding operation, and means for forming foldssuccessively in the projecting ends of the articles as the same aremoved by the conveyor, said means comprising a plate disposed adjacentthe plane of and parallel with said end portions and having a free edgelocated inwardly of the outermost line of movement of said end portionsand a member adapted to engage the sections of the end portionsprojecting beyond said free edge of the plate for turning such sectionsover said free edge of the plate and into contact with the surface ofthe latter.

8. Folding means for articles of sheet material comprising an endlessconveyor, means for retaining articles on the conveyor againstdisplacement from given positions thereon during the folding operations,and a pair of longitudinally spaced means in the path of movement ofthe,

articles for engaging ends of the articles and folding the same insuccession as the articles are moved by said conveyor into engagementwith said means.

9. Mechanism of the class described comprising an article foldingdevice, an endless conveyor for conveying articles into operativerelation with said device, and a plurality of rollers transverselydisposed with respect to the conveyor and arranged to retain thearticles on the conveyor against displacement during the foldingoperation.

10. Mechanism of the class described comprising an article foldingdevice, an endless conveyor for conveying articles into operativerelation with said device, and a plurality of rollers transverselydisposed with respect to the conveyor and arranged to retain thearticles on the conveyor against displacement during the foldingoperation, said rollers being spaced apart a distance less than thedistance between the front and rear edges of the advancing articleswhereby a plurailty of said rollers are in engagement with each articleduring the folding operation thereon.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a conveyor, a stationaryplate mounted above the conveyor in spaced relation with respectthereto, a plurality of inverted co-planar U- shaped roller-supportingmembers having rollers journaled therein and arranged in mutual slidingcontact in the space between said plate and conveyor, meansindependently attaching each of said supporting members to said platefor reciprocation relative thereto, and springs for each of saidsupporting members for pressing the roller thereof against an articlepassing beneath the same on said conveyor.

FRANK LAVER.

